Grain-drill tube.



PATENTED JAN. 22, 1907.

casting or s vIn this constructionlof tube it is ve cated by a Figs. 1 and 2. In t ASSIGNORS TO SP NGFIELD, OHIO,

OFFICE.

OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO, MACHINE COMPANY, or

.A CORPORATIQN'ZOF OHIO.

-GRAlN-DRlL-L TUBE.

are. 841,888.

To all whom, it may concern: I

'Be it known that we, FRANK R. PAOKHAM and GEORGE P. OATES, citizens of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Clark and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grain- Drill Tubes, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to conductor-tubes for grain-drills, and particularly relates to flexible spiral ribbon conductor-tubes so are ranged to insure the. proper feeding of the gram. I

The object of the invention is to construct a spiral ribbon tube so connected tothe support therefor that the uniform in diameter in spite of the flexing of the tube by reason of strains incident to its use, and thereby preventing the gaping of the whirls com rising the tube, which would interfere with the proper feeding of the grain throu h the tube. 4

In the accompanying drawin s, Figure 1 is a view. in perspective of the tu e connected to the support therefor. Fig. 2 is a sectional viiw. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the top of the tu e.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the several' views.

The tube a, is preferably made of an endless ribbon band and is s iral-shaped. .The whirls of the tube are s own overlapping, and it is a parent from the views that the diameter ofthe tube is uniform throughout.

1mportant that the diameter of the tu e be maintained uniform whirls becoming separated by the strains incident to the use of the device and thereby causing openings such that the seed may spill out of the tube before-reaching its dis- 0 large end. Figs. 1 and 2 disclose the casting a, which is connected to any form of hopper that may be used,.and the seed drops from the hopper through this casting. This u port is preferably formed with a bell-shaped tube-top at its lower end, as indicated at 0,". Th

is riveted to e oint indi- 's way we Fig. 3, and the upper whirl a the next succeeding whirl at th Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed November 10,1906. Serial 110.642.7915.

tube will be maintained open as the tube is flexed In order to prevent the e upper whirl of the tube is formed with a flange, as indicated-at a Patented Jan-22, 1907.

have, reinforced the upper part of the tube,- and by means of the loose internal connection, as hereinafter described, we are able to maintain the uniform diameterof the tube even when flexed out of normal position, as indicated in Fig. 2. g

The preferable form of. loose connection shown is made by the flan e a fitting within a socket formed in the be -shaped tube-top a As clearly appears in Fig. 2, there is shown a space formedvertically and laterally betweenthe flange a and the body of the tube-top. This insures a limited amount of movement both vertically and laterally at the place of connection between the ribbon tube and the support.

. The use of ribbon tubes has been unsatisfactory because they have been connected externally with the support therefor, and in order to make this connection it has been necessary to uncoil one or more of the whirls of the tube inorder to extend the diameter sufficiently to permit this application to the outside wall of the su port or tube-top. This not only weakens t e tube by reason of the expansion of the whirls constituting it, but the. extension of the diameter of the expanded coilsis liable to cause them to gape from one direction By our improved device this serious defect is entirely obviated. During the flexing of this improved spiral ribbon tube there is such a movement at the loose connection that the tendency to strain the the reinforcing of the two upper whirls by riveting them together insures that at the point'of greatest strain the whirls will not be strained apart so as to permit objectionable gaping between the ends of the whirls, but, on the contrary, the whirls will always remain overlap ed sufficiently to insure the grain being fed through theconductor-tube to the dischar e end.

We do not desireto limit ourse ves in this invention to the specific details of construction shown herein, but desire a construction that will be commensurate with the invention shown.

Having thus described .our invention, we claim- 1. The combination of a flexible spiral ribbon tube, means for reinforcing the upper whirls of said tube, with the tube-top, and

to another.

.for the next succeeding Whll means for internall connecting the tube to said to substantia 1y as'described.

2. T e combination of a 'iflexible endless ribbon tube comprising a plurality of whirls, each whirl having a smooth engaging surface tube at its upper part, a tube-top, and a loose internal connection between the tube-top and the tube whereby the diameter of the tube is maintained throughout its length, for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands this 8th day of November, 1906.

FRANK R. PACKHAM. GEORGE P. GATES.

1, and each whirl flexibly connected to the next succeeding whirl, a projecting part on the upper. whirl, a tube-top, and means for securing the projecting part of the upper whirl within the tube-top. Y 3. The combination of a ribbon tube com- I prising a plurality of whirls, means for reinarcing the upper part of the tube, and means Witnesses:

THAYER K. Mormow, CHA's; I. WELGH.

for maintaining uniform the diameter of the 15' 

